Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: Four States To Observe Dry Day On Jan 22; Will Others Join The List?

As the crores of Indians are gearing up to witness the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, several states have declared Jan 22 as a dry day. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Assam are four states that have decided to impose a ban on the sale of liquor and meat on 22 January 2024 in view of Lord Ram's consecration ceremony. Since Jan 22, is less than ten days away now, it remains to be seen if other states follow suit.

Chhattisgarh:

On Jan 3, Chhattisgarh, led by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, became the first state to declare January 22 as a "dry day".
"There will be an atmosphere of festivity across the state on January 22. Like Diwali, diya [lamp] will be lit on the day. The state government has decided that there will be a dry day in the entire state on January 22," said the state CM.

The Chhattisgarh Excise Department has issued instructions to ensure the implementation of the government's order. As per the order issued in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 24 of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915, all the country liquor and foreign liquor retail shops, restaurant bars, hotel bars, and clubs located in the state will be closed on 22 January.

An investigation team has also been set up to keep a check on the suspicious locations and vehicles in order to prevent the illegal storage of liquor.

Uttar Pradesh:

In a directive to the liquor shops not to sell drinks on 22 January, the Uttar Pradesh Excise Department said, "You are aware that on January 22, 2024, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be held in the Ram Mandir at Shri Ram's birthplace in Ayodhya. In view of the above, under a government order dated 11-01-2024, it has been decided that all the liquor shops in the state will remain closed on January 22, 2024. The licensee will not be entitled to any compensation or claim for the closure. Please ensure compliance accordingly."

Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked District Magistrates to keep 22 January as a dry day in the state.
"On January 22, 2024, the "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya will take place. In view of the above, it has been decided that on January 22, all the liquor shops, bars, departmental stores etc. in the state," Uttarakhand Excise Commissioner directed the district administration on Friday.

Assam:

Earlier, on Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also declared 22 January as a 'dry day' in the state. "Big screens will be installed at various places for this. On January 21 and 22, the BJP workers will illuminate the market and other areas. January 22 has been declared as a 'dry day' in the state," he said.

After the 550-year-long wait, the much-awaited 'pran pratishtha' of Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple will happen on January 22, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Ram Mandir on the same day.

What Is Pran Pratishtha?

Pran Pratishtha is a popular ritual in Jainism and Hinduism and is considered an important ritual at any temple where the idol of a deity is installed at a sacred place like a temple, after sanctification. At the time of the installation of the idols, the priests perform a lot of rituals and chant Vedic hymns. The word Pran means life and Pratishtha means establishment. Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony means invoking life into the idol. Pran Pratishtha of any idol is important because it is believed that before the process of Pran Pratishtha every idol is like any other decorative piece of a figurine. Through Pran Pratishtha, special powers are infused into idols, and they are transformed into deities. After this process, devotees can worship these idols.

What Is The Process Of Pran Pratishtha?

Whenever an idol of a god or goddess is installed in a temple, the ceremony of bringing the idol to life is called Pran Pratishtha. In Sanatan Dharma, it is believed that when we pray the worship is not actually of the idol, but of the divine power and consciousness inherent in it.

In the process of Pran Pratishtha, first, the idol is ceremoniously brought to the temple. Then, life is instilled in the idols by bathing them in milk and applying fragrances. The process begins by placing the idol in the sanctum sanctorum. During this time, the idol is beautifully dressed and placed in the east direction by the head priest. According to Hindu scriptures, the face of the idol in the temple or house should always be towards the east since there is positive energy in the east direction as the Sun rises in this direction. Thus, it is believed that the idols should be installed facing the east direction.

After installing it in the right place, the priests in the temple start singing the hymns and mantras and performing rituals. At first, the eyes of the idol are opened. Once this process is complete, the idol is considered worthy of being worshipped. It is believed that the rituals infuse life into the idol and bring the divine presence of the presiding deity to the temple.